Mohanjith

Back in the day

The Football War was a six-day war fought between El Salvador and Honduras. Though political tensions between Hondurans and Salvadorans were the main factors contributing to the war's outbreak, hostility between the two countries was further inflamed by rioting during the second North American qualifying round for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Though short-lived, the war claimed thousands of lives and displaced approximately 100,000 people. Did either country make it to the World Cup that year?

Feature

The idea of creating a weapon by attaching a sharp end to a long shaft is an old oneâ€”the first spears date back to the Stone Age. Over the centuries, pole weapons have taken many different forms, from the European fauchard to the Chinese guan dao to the Japanese naginata. Masses of soldiers carrying pole weapons were recognized as effective military units early in the history of organized warfare. What ancient formation of spear-wielding infantrymen was used by the Greeks?

Born on a day like today

Bell was a British traveler, author, government official, and one of the builders of the modern state of Iraq. Her knowledge of Middle Eastern conditions earned her an appointment to the British intelligence services during WWI, and she was largely responsible for the selection of Faisal I as king of Iraq, eventually earning the nickname "the Uncrowned Queen of Iraq" for her role in shaping the monarchy. What justification did Bell give for being part of the Women's Anti-Suffrage League?